第51章

The child, she said, was badly, though not dangerously, hurt, and the village doctor, who was already on hand, had asked that the surgeon, already summoned from Francheuil, should be told to bring with him certain needful appliances.

Owen had started by motor to fetch the surgeon, but there was still time to communicate with the latter by telephone.

The doctor furthermore begged for an immediate provision of such bandages and disinfectants as Givre itself could furnish, and Anna bade Darrow address himself to Miss Viner, who would know where to find the necessary things, and would direct one of the servants to bicycle with them to the lodge.

Darrow, as he hurried off on this errand, had at once perceived the opportunity it offered of a word with Sophy Viner.What that word was to be he did not know; but now, if ever, was the moment to make it urgent and conclusive.

It was unlikely that he would again have such a chance of unobserved talk with her.

He had supposed he should find her with her pupil in the school-room; but he learned from a servant that Effie had gone to Francheuil with her step-brother, and that Miss Viner was still in her room.Darrow sent her word that he was the bearer of a message from the lodge, and a moment later he heard her coming down the stairs.

XX

For a second, as she approached him, the quick tremor of her glance showed her all intent on the same thought as himself.

He transmitted his instructions with mechanical precision, and she answered in the same tone, repeating his words with the intensity of attention of a child not quite sure of understanding.Then she disappeared up the stairs.

Darrow lingered on in the hall, not knowing if she meant to return, yet inwardly sure she would.At length he saw her coming down in her hat and jacket.The rain still streaked the window panes, and, in order to say something, he said:

"You're not going to the lodge yourself?""I've sent one of the men ahead with the things; but Ithought Mrs.Leath might need me."

"She didn't ask for you," he returned, wondering how he could detain her; but she answered decidedly: "I'd better go."He held open the door, picked up his umbrella and followed her out.As they went down the steps she glanced back at him."You've forgotten your mackintosh.""I sha'n't need it."

She had no umbrella, and he opened his and held it out to her.She rejected it with a murmur of thanks and walked on through the thin drizzle, and he kept the umbrella over his own head, without offering to shelter her.

Rapidly and in silence they crossed the court and began to walk down the avenue.They had traversed a third of its length before Darrow said abruptly: "Wouldn't it have been fairer, when we talked together yesterday, to tell me what I've just heard from Mrs.Leath?""Fairer----?" She stopped short with a startled look.

"If I'd known that your future was already settled I should have spared you my gratuitous suggestions."She walked on, more slowly, for a yard or two."I couldn't speak yesterday.I meant to have told you today.""Oh, I'm not reproaching you for your lack of confidence.

Only, if you HAD told me, I should have been more sure of your really meaning what you said to me yesterday."She did not ask him to what he referred, and he saw that her parting words to him lived as vividly in her memory as in his.

"Is it so important that you should be sure?" she finally questioned.

"Not to you, naturally," he returned with involuntary asperity.It was incredible, yet it was a fact, that for the moment his immediate purpose in seeking to speak to her was lost under a rush of resentment at counting for so little in her fate.Of what stuff, then, was his feeling for her made? A few hours earlier she had touched his thoughts as little as his senses; but now he felt old sleeping instincts stir in him...

A rush of rain dashed against his face, and, catching Sophy's hat, strained it back from her loosened hair.She put her hands to her head with a familiar gesture...He came closer and held his umbrella over her...

At the lodge he waited while she went in.The rain continued to stream down on him and he shivered in the dampness and stamped his feet on the flags.It seemed to him that a long time elapsed before the door opened and she reappeared.He glanced into the house for a glimpse of Anna, but obtained none; yet the mere sense of her nearness had completely altered his mood.

The child, Sophy told him, was doing well; but Mrs.Leath had decided to wait till the surgeon came.Darrow, as they turned away, looked through the gates, and saw the doctor's old-fashioned carriage by the roadside.

"Let me tell the doctor's boy to drive you back," he suggested; but Sophy answered: "No; I'll walk," and he moved on toward the house at her side.She expressed no surprise at his not remaining at the lodge, and again they walked on in silence through the rain.She had accepted the shelter of his umbrella, but she kept herself at such a carefully measured distance that even the slight swaying movements produced by their quick pace did not once bring her arm in touch with his; and, noticing this, he perceived that every drop of her blood must be alive to his nearness.

"What I meant just now," he began, "was that you ought to have been sure of my good wishes."She seemed to weigh the words."Sure enough for what?""To trust me a little farther than you did.""I've told you that yesterday I wasn't free to speak.""Well, since you are now, may I say a word to you?"She paused perceptibly, and when she spoke it was in so low a tone that he had to bend his head to catch her answer."Ican't think what you can have to say."